As it is, the board gave the thumbs-up to trigger the extra year in any case as an act of loyalty to the player who has given them so much this season. It is testament to the man that he turned down the offer.

Mourinho believes Ibra’s career is not over and backs him to show the same determination that has been evident all through his career in coming back.

The United chief said: “The future is a big surgery, a long period of recovery. But the future is also about a very strong guy, mentally very, very strong, who wrote immediately on his social media he will stop when he wants, not when people think.

“It looks to me that he is not going to give up, he is going to fight and I’m pleased. He has fought all his life — since he was born. I don’t see a reason for him not to fight now.”